Fred Talley
Encyclopedia
Fred Talley is an American football
running back
. He played collegiately
for the Arkansas Razorbacks
from 1999-2002.
in Longview, Texas
, where he played for Robert Bero, former coach of the Longview High School Lobos, leading his high school team
to a state runner-up finish and a #3 national ranking as a junior
Originally signed by the University of Arkansas
as a defensive back
, Talley was later moved to running back where he had a very productive career. As a sophomore in 2000, Talley rushed 768 yards and five touchdowns despite playing in only eight games, helping the Razorbacks reach the Las Vegas Bowl
. He was named Second Team All-SEC
by the coaches in 2001 after running for 774 yards and four touchdowns. The Razorbacks later faced the Oklahoma Sooners
in the Cotton Bowl Classic, losing 10-3.
As a senior in 2002
, Talley rushed for 1119 yards, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Half of Talley's season total was gained during a three-game stretch against Auburn
(241 yards), Kentucky
(182 yards), and Ole Miss
(136 yards). Talley's rushing yardage against Auburn is the third-highest in school history, behind Darren McFadden
and Dickey Morton. In the Razorbacks 2002 season finale, Talley rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown
against LSU
. Arkansas won the game, nicknamed the "Miracle on Markham," by a score of 21-20, propelling them to the SEC Championship Game
, which they lost to the University of Georgia
30-3. Talley was also voted First Team All-SEC by the coaches and Second Team by the Associated Press
in 2002.
For his career, Talley ran for 2661 yards (5.3 avg.) and eleven touchdowns. He rushed for 100 yards or more in a game eleven times, including two 200-yard games.
, but was signed as a free agent
by the Atlanta Falcons
. Talley was released during training camp. Talley also had free agent contracts with the Canadian Football League
's Edmonton Eskimos
in 2004 and the Montreal Alouettes
for the 2005 season, but was released in the pre-season each time.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
. He played collegiately
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
from 1999-2002.
College
Fred Talley was a tailbackTailback
Tailback can mean:* Halfback * A line of motor vehicles caught up in traffic congestion; a traffic jam...
in Longview, Texas
Longview, Texas
Longview is a city in Gregg and Harrison Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 80,455. Most of the city is located in Gregg County, of which it is the county seat; only a small part extends into the western part of neighboring Harrison County. It is...
, where he played for Robert Bero, former coach of the Longview High School Lobos, leading his high school team
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
to a state runner-up finish and a #3 national ranking as a junior
Originally signed by the University of Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
as a defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
, Talley was later moved to running back where he had a very productive career. As a sophomore in 2000, Talley rushed 768 yards and five touchdowns despite playing in only eight games, helping the Razorbacks reach the Las Vegas Bowl
Las Vegas Bowl
The Maaco Bowl Las Vegas is an NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A post-season college football bowl game that has been played annually at 40,000-seat Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. since 1992. From 1992 to 1996, matchups featured the champion teams from the Big West and Mid-American...
. He was named Second Team All-SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
by the coaches in 2001 after running for 774 yards and four touchdowns. The Razorbacks later faced the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
in the Cotton Bowl Classic, losing 10-3.
As a senior in 2002
2002 in sports
2002 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Stephan Eberharter, Austria** Women's overall season champion: Michaela Dorfmeister, Austria-American football:...
, Talley rushed for 1119 yards, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Half of Talley's season total was gained during a three-game stretch against Auburn
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
(241 yards), Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
(182 yards), and Ole Miss
Ole Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
(136 yards). Talley's rushing yardage against Auburn is the third-highest in school history, behind Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden is an American football running back who currently plays for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Arkansas from 2005 to 2007...
and Dickey Morton. In the Razorbacks 2002 season finale, Talley rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
against LSU
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
. Arkansas won the game, nicknamed the "Miracle on Markham," by a score of 21-20, propelling them to the SEC Championship Game
SEC Championship Game
The SEC Championship Game refers to the game determining the Southeastern Conference's football season champion. The championship game pits the SEC Western Division representative against the Eastern Division representative in a game held after the regular season has been completed. Thus far, nine...
, which they lost to the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
30-3. Talley was also voted First Team All-SEC by the coaches and Second Team by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
in 2002.
For his career, Talley ran for 2661 yards (5.3 avg.) and eleven touchdowns. He rushed for 100 yards or more in a game eleven times, including two 200-yard games.
NFL
Talley was not selected in the 2003 NFL Draft2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
, but was signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Talley was released during training camp. Talley also had free agent contracts with the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
's Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
in 2004 and the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
for the 2005 season, but was released in the pre-season each time.